ExperimentalWorldPopPunkJazz

1.SheSaidToMeThat
2.I'mNoDifferentFromYouNow
3.IKnowTheLanguageThatYouSpeak
4.Trane(Instrumental)
5.March13th,2004
6.IfYouFallToYourDeath
7.PenetratingIdea
8.IKnowTheLanguageThat
9.Tritone+1
10.OutlawsAndBeggars
11. The Sun Don't Wait
12. War Is Terror, Terror Is War
13. Otra Chanza Para Ver

Rick Rivera/trap set
Thollem Convoz/Voice and piano

Now available on:
Edgetone Records

Eduardo Chagas, jazz e arredores - Portugal

From the fringes of the various musical genres comes great music; that is a fact of common experience. It is not less true that,
when the artists are talented, the results are able to exceed our highest expectations. Our anticipation that this is true for the
present case is based on two factors. First is the source of the original product: the San Francisco Bay Area in California, the
land that, through the independent music scene that has flourished on the West Coast in the last ten to fifteen years, has
brought us a wide variety of musical projects disconnected from the strictures of large recording companies. The other
reason stems from the fact that this disk uses only piano, voice, and drums, a combination sufficiently simple and with
past results that have been sufficiently interesting that it provokes an irrepressible curiosity to know what new
thing Thollem McDonas and Rick Rivera have brought us in "I’ll Meet You Half Way Out In the Middle of It All,"
which is billed as a combination of World, Pop, Punk and Jazz music. In truth, that which comes immediately to the
ear is the energy and intensity of rock, as well as the rebel attitude and sweet/ sour voice of McDonas, who sings
verses woven between a complex mesh improvised from piano and drums, all of which is minutely precise and
yet remains totally free and unexpected. A very impressive work!
It is not enough to recognize the pressured sense of drama of the songs. Each one is a small original work
harmonically, melodically and rhythmically minimalist, not in the musicological sense of the word, but in the sense
of disposing with all that is not essential for a direct and effective communication with the inner ear. The simple
play between words and music (and it is so difficult to make it simple!) render all elements in a happy combination:
great class, freshness, inventiveness, and impact. A recording such as this should have ample publication through
adequate avenues of distribution; the opposite is actually the case. Lamentably, it will only be known by a small circle
of a few happy devotees, which elect fortunately includes me.

Dolf Mulder, VitalWeekly, Holland

From time to time a name pops up completely out of nowhere that grasps you by your throat. That is what
happened to me when I put this cd in the player not knowing what to expect. This one heavily knocks on your door.
It had an overwhelming effect on me. Coming back to my senses my first question was who is this Thollem
McDonas? There is not that much information available about him I found out. He is a composer and pianist from
the San Francisco Bay Area. He performed solo as well in groups over many years, in many different musical
contexts. That's about it. I'm not sure whether "I'll meet you..." is his first solo album. If so that's a little late for
such a talent. On the other hand 3 more cd’s are planned in the coming months. Anyway, "this album is a
representation of some of the many directions I have taken throughout my life as a composer", Thollem soberly
explains. And this not by accident I suppose, but it’s meant so by McDonas. So it’s no wonder that this cd
impresses because of the richness of musical ideas. In the 13 songs McDonas took inspiration from many different
musical styles and idioms (jazz, classical, pop, caribean music, new orleans style, theatre, etc.). Too many to mention
and often transformed beyond recognition into something very unique and enjoyable, somewhere "in the middle of it
all" and very much McDonas. So it's absolutely no eclectic potpourri that wants to impress: hear what I can do!
Not at all, the compositions are very ingenious and come from a very idiosyncratic composer who has something
to tell. With each song McDonas creates a universe of its own. Here we have a composer with ideas! Impressive is
also the great playing by Thollem himself on piano and Rick Rivera on drums. Piano, drums and voice go wonderfull
together. Both musicians are able to generate lots of energy. Happily they chose for a live recording of the songs
which strengthens this effect. His voice fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the songs. I can't help it,
this is really a very original CD by a fresh voice.

Massimo Ricci, TouchingExtremes - Italy

It is my great pleasure introducing you to a truly great record, played by a couple of the
finest musicians I've come across in years: Thollem McDonas (piano and voice) and Rick
Rivera (trap set). These 13 songs contain myriads of influences, all sandwiched into a
completely personal idiom that Tollem throws around like a Santa Claus does with gifts to
kids; his piano figurations, highly skilled and rhythmically challenging, constitute a scintillating
harmonic skeleton to a voice that gathers Adrian Belew and Jim Carrey in singing pungent,
acute lyrics. Rick's drumming is on the same level: articulated and fantasy-full, he puts a
twisted spin even on the (just) apparently easier sections. Their interplay reaches more than a
few snowy highs in this beauty of a CD, where Van Dyke Parks, Kurt Weill, Captain Beefheart,
Thelonious Monk and Tom Waits are just a few of the many spiritual godfathers guiding the
hands of this exceptional author. My favourite moments doing my reviewer's job are like this,
the very instant when you come across a genius and are among the first ones to realize and
tell the world.

Dick Metcalf, Rotcod Zzaj - Olympia, WA

If you're looking for something truly "fresh" (not "punk-oid", but brash with
class), you'll enjoy this excursion/incursion by (our friend) Thollem McDonas
(piano & vocals) & Rick Rivera (trapset). I fell in love with Thollem's brand of
musical insanity th' first time I listened to him at the OLYMPIA EXPERIMENTAL
MUSIC FESTIVAL. He handed me this CD (along with another, which I'll be reviewing
later) during this year's fest (in which he gave a splendid performance), & I was
immediately attracted to it, Because of the drums... & it makes for a TOTALLY
NEW dimension for McDonas. His vocal antics are a most pleasant experience,
serving (in many ways) as a rhythmic counterpoint to Rivera's drums... imagine
a sorta' jazzy Jim Croce & apply that "Junkyard Dog" atmosphere in a form of
classical hip-hop,if your mind is that free. As with (all) other albums of his we've
reviewed,it is impossible to lump this playing into any pigeonhole... just when
you think you've got his classical roots identified & you're about to classify
his as neo-magnon, he jumps orf into some Mississippi mud boogie(track 8)that
would make (either) Jelly Roll OR Doctor John might-ee proud. Absolute talent
and creative energy unbounded here, but if you're "expecting" some(particular)
"thang" - move ON! From our odd ears, this gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED,
& the "PICK" of this issue for "most creative piano & rhythm".